Rajasthan Expands Urban Jobs Scheme to New Municipal Bodies

• 05 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, In a major victory for the villagers who lost employment opportunities after the conversion of village panchayats into urban local bodies, the Government of Rajasthan has agreed to launch the Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme in 42 newly created Municipal Councils.

Key Points

• Guaranteed Employment Works in Municipal Councils: The Local Self Government Department has initiated guaranteed employment works in newly constituted Municipal Councils across 27 districts. Urban bodies nearest to the councils are designated as in-charge until regular posts of officials are created.
• Concerns of Villagers: Works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were halted in village panchayats converted into urban local bodies in July last year, affecting villagers who relied on the scheme for livelihood.
• Indefinite Dharna: Villagers initiated an indefinite dharna at Bhim in January-end to demand the restart of employment works.
• Role of Rajasthan Unorganised Labour Union: The agitation was led by the Rajasthan Unorganised Labour Union, associated with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), known for its role in the right to information movement.
• Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme: Introduced by the Congress government in September 2022, the scheme aimed to provide economic support to urban poor by offering 100 days of work annually.
• Memorandum Submission: Participants submitted a memorandum to the Block Development Officer, urging prompt issuance of job cards and work allocation in the Bhim Municipal Council.
• Types of Works: Works under the scheme include tree plantation, pond cleaning, garbage collection, segregation, and catching stray animals, among others.

Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme

• The urban employment guarantee scheme, named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was rolled out in the State of Rajasthan in September 2022 to provide economic support to the poor and needy families living in the cities.
• The scheme stipulates the allocation of work on demand to the laborers for 100 days in a year.
• The Rajasthan Government had touted it as the country’s biggest scheme to give guaranteed jobs to the people residing in cities, on the lines of MGNREGA for villagers started at the Centre in 2006.
• Those in the age group of 18 to 60 years residing within the limits of urban local bodies are eligible to demand and get employment in the identified segments.